Friday, January 2, 2009

Some Love For A Revolutionary Diva: Eartha Kitt

Happy New Year everyone! May this year bring healing, love, positive manifestation and justice to our communities! I'm actually gonna take a short break from blogging until after the 10th, but after being inspired by Feministing's tribute to Eartha Kitt, i decided i should at least leave y'all with that. Gotta say, i searched YouTube for a better clip, but the one Feministing picked is definitely the one that shows her to be the provacateur that she was! Not only was she a reknowned singer, actress (Catwoman!! grrrrowl!!) and dancer, but she also raised eyebrows and consciousness when she protested the Vietnam War at a posh White House dinner. To quote The Nation:

"You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed," the singer told the First Lady and the 50 other women at the luncheon. "They rebel in the street. They don't want to go to school because they're going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam."

The First Lady reportedly burst into tears.

The president was furious.

Kitt was blacklisted. She was investigated by the FBI and CIA, and ended up on the "Enemies List" of Johnson's successor, Richard Nixon.

Hats off to Eartha Kitt! She was reportedly an advocate for inner city youth as well. At the age of 81, she died on December 25th 2008, after establishing herself as a unique, colorful, truth-talking, provacative cultural icon, which was not easy for a black woman in her day. May her legacy influence us in this new year to be creative, have fun, be fabulous, live outside the box, and take action! Rest in Peace and Fabulousness Eartha Kitt, and have a glorious 2009 everyone!

(Multiple Answers) The Oscar Grant Protest-turned-riot:

A woman who is not feminist = A woman with high internalized sexism.

why would you want to meet men who are actively anti-sexist?

What last inspired you to explore new sexual territory?

what should be done about homophobia and colonial buggery laws in Jamaica?

How has reading this blog been for you? (you can pick more than one)

which western feminist icon are you? (apparently i'm angela davis)

Which Western feminist icon are you?

You are Angela Davis! You were the THIRD WOMYN IN HISTORY to appear on the FBI's Most Wanted List. You are a communinist, black power-lovin' lady who shook up the United States when you refused to lie down quietly to oppression. You WENT TO JAIL! Wow. You kick so much more ass than Foxxy Brown.Take this quiz!